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NEW DELHI SIGHTSEEING On your arrival at the Delhi, India you will be met by the tour representative who will help you check in to a hotel. After check-In proceed for Delhi sightseeing.Delhi is one city that can amuse you with its unique attractions. It offers number of interesting places like mosques, religious and historical sites, that add spice on your Delhi tour. Every monument, museum, gardens and amusement park holds important relevance in the Delhi history. Today the itinerary includes a city tour of New Delhi which includes President Palace, India Gate, Mahatma Gandhi memorial, Qutub Minar.

NO FEE : *PRESIDENT HOUSE: Rashtrapati Bhawan (Hindi for presidential palace) is the official residence of the President of India, A portion of the building houses the President’s Secretariat as well. The Durbar Hall is used to conduct such state functions as the swearing-in of the Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers and presentation of civilian and military honors. The Ashoka Hall (named for King Ashoka who reigned from 272 to 232 B.C.) is used for the acceptance by the President of credentials from foreign ambassadors, cultural functions in honor of visiting heads of state, and presentation of certain prestigious awards. The forecourt of the palace is used for official welcomes for visiting foreign leaders. Rashtrapati Bhawan was designed by Edwin Lutyens (the principal architect of New Delhi) and built on Raisina Hill as a grand palace for the Viceroy of India. Work on the building began in 1913 and was completed in 1929. The first British Viceroy to occupy the building was Lord Irwin and the last was Lord Louis Mountbatten.
The style of this building is a brilliant amalgam of the Mughal (Muslim) Indian and classical European schools of architecture. The building is constructed of two shades of sandstone and measures approximately one kilometer (0.6 mile) around the foundation. The main structure is roughly 195 meters wide and 165 meters deep. It has a colossal central dome surmounting a long colonnade and 340 rooms. The floor area covers roughly 18,580 square meters. The Durbar Hall is 23 meters in diameter and is inlaid with colored marble. The Ashoka Hall, originally built as the state ballroom, is rectangular in shape, measuring 32 meters by 20 meters. The vast forecourt is T-shaped, with the Jaipur Column (a 145-foot-tall pillar) at the center. To the west of the building are the famed Mughal Gardens, which boast an impressive collection of roses and chrysanthemums.

* Humayun Tomb

The tomb was built in the memory of Humayun by his Persian widow Haji Begum who planned the architecture of the tomb after consulting with one of the most notable architects of her homeland, Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath. The architecture, which showcases a very prominent influence of the Persian style of architecture, is credited to be the first and the most important architectural endeavor of the reign of Emperor Akbar, often regarded to be the greatest of all the Mughal emperors.

One of the most important factors that have added to the claim to fame of the Humayun’s Tomb is the fact that the architecture of the tomb as been one of the greatest influences in the architecture of one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal

NO FEE :*INDIA GATE: India Gate is perhaps one of the most impressive structures built in the capital of India, Delhi with lush green lawns in the backdrop. This historic monument was built as a memorial to commemorate the 90,000 Indian soldiers killed in the first world war . This wonder monument was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The construction was completed in 1931 A.D.Located on Rajpath, the road which leads to the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhawan, the gate is 160 feet high with an arch of 138 feet.The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin.

Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan. A memoir of the soldiers who laid their lives at the North-West Frontier operations of the same time and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco. On the walls of the structure are inscribed the names of all the soldiers. This eternal flame called Amar Jawan Jyoti that runs on gas was lit in 1971 to honour the martyrs has been kept alive since then. During the night, it is intensely floodlit and the fountains nearby are lit up with coloured lights.Close by is the canopy which once became controversial and under whose red sandstone roof was the marble statue This monument located in the Delhi’s heart land enchants an eternal saga of valore. The spirit of nationalism is rejuvenated and encourages the inner self to respond to the melodies of the sacrifices made by the brave sons of this virtuous land. The inscribed names of the martyrs unfurl the petals of the tales of their ultimate submission to the cause of their mother land. Indeed, this is an ideal reflection of Indian Passion to love thy mother land.of King George V which has been shifted from there. The canopy was also designed and built by Lutyens.

NO FEE : *MAHATMA GANDHI MEMORIAL: Pilgrimage to many Indians, and foreigners who admire Mahatma Gandhi for his non violence approach to solve problems, the Gandhi Memorial can be found in the Raj Ghat area in Delhi. This is actually situated in a park on the banks of the Yamuna river, which includes other burial sites of Indian rulers, like Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. It also includes the Gandhi museum, with his writings, belongings and photographs depicting the story of his life. As you leave the main Mahatma Gandhi Marg (road) with all its traffic, you enter the park and immediately you feel the welcoming silence. People picknicking on the grass, strolling down the lanes, walking towards the elevation in the park at a short distance. You can walk up the hill, which gives you a preview of the memorial site itself. I chose to walk around, to get a grasp of the area, before going down at the other side. Here, you are requested to leave your shoes, and you walk around the corner and into the inner area of the memorial. As you reach the black marble square tomb where Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948, you inevitably find yourself with Indian families, who visit this site as a pilgrimage and have their pictures taken. To be true, the site is photogenic. On the black marble, there are always flowers, and the colourful saris of the women make for beautiful compositions. People kneel at the frontside, where his last words are written: “Heram”, or “Oh, my God”.

*QUTUB MINAR: Qutub Minar is not only an important tourist spot in New Delhi rather it is an exquisite example of the Mughal Architecture. What the Leaning Tower is to Pisa or the Eiffel Tower to Paris, is the Qutub Minar to New Delhi – its landmark. Qutub Minar is the highest stone tower in India as well as one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised. The famous monuments around the Qutub area form the Qutub Complex which can be visited by the tourists. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutub Minar for the use of Mu’azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer. However, only the first story was completed by Qutub-ud-din. The other stories were built by his successor and son-in-law, Shams -Ud -Din IItutmish (1211-36 AD). The two circular stories in white marble were built by Ferozshah Tughlaq in 1368, replacing the original fourth storey. This towering structure in red sandstone has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and about 2.75m on the top with a height of 72.5m.All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and are supported by exquisite stalactite designs. The tapering tower has pointed and circular flutings on the first story round and star-shaped on the second and third stories. The bands of calligraphic inscriptions are amazing in perfection. Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutub.

OLD DELHI

NO FEE : * JAMA MAJID: It is located opposite the Red Fort is the majestic Jama Masjid which is a masterpiece of architecture.The grand monument of old Delhi is the Jama Masjid or the Friday Mosque. This is the largest mosque in India. The sprawling esplanade which separates it from the arterial is a fascinating leisure ground. Work on the Jama Masjid mosque was begun in 1650 A.D. by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to compliment his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers toiled for six years to complete this largest mosque in India. Every Friday, the emperor and his retinue would travel in state from the fort to the mosque to attend congressional prayers. A fine example of Mughal architecture, the Jama Masjid has three gateways . The largest and the highest on the east was reserved exclusively for the emperor. The main courtyard of the mosque is 408 square feet and paved with red stone. In the centre is a large marble tank in which the devout wash before attending prayers. The main mosque is crowned by three onion shaped domes made of white marble and inlaid with strips of black slate. On the north and south of the complex are two 130 feet high minarets which offer spectacular bird’s eye-view of the city.

It has a flight of stairs which lead to crowded bazaars. It is the most popular mosque where Muslims offer prayers every Friday and also on special religious days. The eastern front, with the ceremonial entrance gateway, is surrounded by shops. Jama Masjid is not only architecturally beautiful, but also a place of great religious significance as it houses a hair from the beard of Prophet and also a chapter of Holy Quran written by him. The Jama Masjid area is about people – thousands of them, pavement hawkers, and petty shopkeepers, zari-workers of Motia Mahal, booksellers of Urdu Bazaar, hoteliers and rickshaw pullers. It is they who live history, if not determine it, recalling a bygone era recorded by court historians and myth-makers.

LOTUS TEMPLE

Lotus Temple is one of the remarkable architectures of Bahai faith. It is located at Kalkaji in New Delhi. The temple looks like a lotus flower and is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. The temple has no restrictions for visitors and is open to people from all religions. The place provides immaculate environment for meditation, peace and wisdom. The Bahai temple was completed in 1986. Since then the temple has received recognition from all over the world for its splendid architecture and design. Lotus Temple is among the most visited monuments in India. The credit for building this beautiful structure goes to the Persian architect Fariborz Sahba from Canada.

Personifying Lotus in the temple does not merely mean giving a lotus shape to the edifice but it has a message to the people of India in the form of a manifestation from the almighty. Lotus is a symbol of peace, purity, love and immortality. It is this particular specialty of Lotus flower which makes the flower an important icon in Indian culture and society. This is why the design of Lotus temple has been inspired by lotus flower.

The design looks like a half opened Lotus flower with 27 freestanding “petals” made of marble. The architect, while designing the temple took into account the eternal beauty of Lotus flower. The construction work took almost 10 years before it finally got shape and was open for public. The team comprised of 800 engineers, technicians, workers and artisans who worked diligently to give realization to one of the most complex edifices in the world. The temple integrates the aesthetic values along with the technological influence within the whole structure. There are nine reflecting pools that encompass the temple from outside. Converting the geometry of the design that did not have any straight line to the actual structure needed a lot of effort and dedicated engineering.

The temple has the capacity to accommodate nearly 2500 people and has nine doors that open in a central hall. The whole structure is made of white marble that adds to the glory of the temple. It is about 40 meters tall surrounded by nine ponds and appears as if the temple is floating like a Lotus flower in water.

The most appraising aspect of this particular architectural masterpiece is the integration of the effervescent Indian history along with the modern engineering and architecture. The temple has to its accreditation being recognized all over the world as one of the most visited edifices in the world with almost 50 million people having visited the temple since its inception in 1986.

More about Delhi

NEW DELHI SIGHTSEEING On your arrival at the Delhi, India you will be met by the tour representative who will help you check in to a hotel. After check-In proceed for Delhi sightseeing.Delhi is one city that can amuse you with its unique attractions. It offers number of interesting places like mosques, religious and historical sites, that add spice on your Delhi tour. Every monument, museum, gardens and amusement park holds important relevance in the Delhi history. Today the itinerary includes a city tour of New Delhi which includes President Palace, India Gate, Mahatma Gandhi memorial, Qutub Minar.